Earning a bachelor’s degree online is the perfect way for stay-at-home moms, busy professionals, and retirees to further their education. With an online education, you can schedule your courses around your busy lifestyle and do it from the comfort of your own home. It is also a very wise financial decision. On average, the lifetime earnings of someone with a bachelor’s degree is double the amount they would earn with just a high school diploma.
A bachelor’s degree is the most common type of college degree students earn, and with the rise of online education, there are a plethora of online programs to choose from. So how do you choose an online university to attend?
Location is not a factor as it would be when deciding to attend a traditional brick and mortar college. There is no need to attend classes on campus or even show up to register for classes. Because all of your learning will be done remotely, the location won’t help you narrow down your options. Most online universities offer bachelor’s degree programs, and if you are looking for a common area of study like business, then you will have the option of attending most online universities.
Inevitably, the next question you’ll ask yourself when choosing an online bachelor’s degree is affordability. Determining which online college is best for you financially requires a great deal of research and planning, all of which can be overwhelming. To get you started, here is a list of ten of the most affordable colleges to get a bachelor’s degree online.
10 Most Affordable Colleges for an Online Bachelor’s Degree
Nova Southeastern University – NSU has been offering online courses since 1972, so its online course platform offers a wide variety of activities that facilitate frequent student-faculty and student-to-student interactions. They also pride themselves on their electronic library packed with many full-text documents. The average cost of an online bachelor’s degree at NSU is $21,000.
Salem International University – Salem University Online is the virtual extension of the renowned Salem International University campus located in West Virginia. They offer an accelerated course program or you can choose to take one class at a time, whichever fits your busy schedule. Each credit hour at Salem University Online costs between $450 and $575.
Western Governor’s University – A private, not-for-profit online university, Western Governor’s University was established in 1997 by 19 US Governors. It was designed to focus on five core themes: responsiveness to employment and social needs, a in competency-based education, expansion of access, profitability and development of a technological infrastructure. Tuition for Western Governor’s University is $2,896 per 6 month period.
Colorado Technical University – CTU Online is proud to provide its students with the ability to interact with other students and their teachers online in chat and discussion rooms, as well as social clubs, social media, and campuses in Denver. The mentor program sets CTU Online apart from many of its online university competitors. The average cost of an online bachelor’s degree at CTU is $30,600.
Champlain College – Champlain College realizes the hectic life that the average student leads. With this in mind, they have made some of their courses only seven weeks long, giving students the ability to continue their education in a fast-paced environment that suits a fast-paced lifestyle. The average cost of an online bachelor’s degree at Champlain College is $30,788.
Dickinson State University – Dickinson State University is located in Dickinson, North Dakota, and its primary purpose is “to contribute to the intellectual, social, economic, and cultural development” in southwestern North Dakota. Each credit hour at Dickinson State University costs $238.
American InterContinental University – Founded in 1970 in Europe, American InterContinental University currently has six campuses in the US and Europe, but its online campus offices are officially located in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. Tuition for an online bachelor’s degree at American InterContinental University is $32,540.
University of Phoenix – The University of Phoenix has campuses in more than 200 locations and offers online programs in most countries around the world. It has more than 100 degree programs and offers specialty degree accrediting programs in nursing, business, teacher education, and counseling. The average cost of an online bachelor’s degree from the University of Phoenix is $32,000.
Liberty University – Located in Lynchburg, Virginia, Liberty University is a private evangelical Christian liberal arts school founded in 1971 by Jerry Falwell. The online university offers more than 60 study programs. The average cost of an online bachelor’s degree at Liberty University is $35,400.
Upper Iowa University – UIU operates on a two-at-a-time curriculum offering multiple eight-week terms each year that you can access at any time. Several companies have educational agreements with UIU through the Corporate Advantage Program. Your employees enjoy benefits, including tuition discounts. Each credit hour at UIU costs $333, and the average cost of an online bachelor’s degree is $39,960.
When researching the cost of an online bachelor’s degree, it’s important to note that each school will list their tuition and fees differently. Some charge per credit hour or per course, while others make you pay tuition per semester or per year. Some even charge a flat fee for as many classes as you can handle. Be sure to do the math so you know you’re comparing all tuition and fees correctly. If you are unsure how many credits/courses constitute a Bachelor’s degree, go to our online degrees section and click on Bachelor’s.